Seriously, they, the locals (gross generalisation) need to take a huge look in their own backyard first, spitting on the floor any place that suits them without the slightest bit of consideration for others, urinating wherever and whenever, talk so loud on their phones everyone can hear them, but then that don't matter since anyone else can't seemingly make any logical sense of the overheard conversation anyways... (these behaviours I witness on an almost daily basis within a hospital setting). Sorry but the general personal hygiene and habits is way below most others!

And when it comes to Guanxigang... the locals have it more in spades than any of us Martians will ever have... 'cause we'll always be Aliens. As for driving with a little or way bit more, than a skin full of alcohol on board... the locals again take that trophy. Not to say that there aren't some foreigners in that crowd - I know one, and he still does it from time to time, despite having crashed his beloved big bike under a truck, then being locked up for the mandatory 14 day period. Of course he still claims that he's a way better rider/driver with some alcohol flowing through his vasculature.

Thank you Doc .... as far as illegal imports .. i try and live with in the confides ... but Chinese companies make it so hard by delivering poor quality for local consumption at a higher price then export... i recently had the chance to ride a Keeway 250 Silverblade ... cheaper then my Benelli overseas... and feels better... plastic looks better... CV still sucks... but overall felt like a better bike.... can't get a decent legal Japanese bike for my fat ass with out it being illegal.... pondering pondering

This item from Global Times is not really about any crackdown, but check out the final two paragraphs, which says Vehicle Management will be tinkering again with the car plate lottery system in November. Any meaningful new restrictions on cars would be welcome, especially congestion fees, but I seriously doubt there's going to be any good news there for motorcyclists...

Beijing will create more suburban centers in its outskirts, limiting the expansion of government offices, business areas and medical facilities in old downtown areas, in a bid to deal with the deteriorating traffic situation, according to its latest government plan.

The municipal government presented a report on Friday to the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress on a plan based on legislators' proposals regarding the traffic congestion issue. In a rare move, the meeting was broadcast live on the Internet.

During the meeting, Vice Mayor Chen Gang said that certain factors worsened the traffic situation in the capital, including the large population and number of vehicles, single-centered city layout, improper locations of residences and workplaces, as well as a defective road network and public transportation system.

According to latest statistics, more than 20 million regular residents now live in Beijing, and there are 5.2 million vehicles in the city. More than 32 percent of vehicles on the road are cars, while the rate in 2003 was only 26.2 percent.

The downtown area is home to 73 percent of workplaces, 90 percent of medical and education facilities, while residential areas are far from workplaces.

The city is taking measures to move out industries that do not match with the capital's functional positioning, putting limits on the construction of commercial logistics facilities, relocating commodities marketplaces, restricting the expansion of large hospitals and guiding employed people to live close to their workplaces.

Beijing will also expand its public transportation system, hoping to build 1,000 kilometers of tracks for its metro system by 2020 from the current 456 kilometers.

The lottery system for vehicle plates is expected to be modified in November, and congestion fees are also being considered.

This is bad news for Beijingers who want to buy a car anytime soon, as under the current lottery system, there were already 1.61 million people in the growing pool fighting for the 18,553 car license numbers for September. Even smaller license quotas will reportedly be released each month.Copyright (c) 2011 original author(s)

By now, most people have probably heard about the foreigner that ran over an older woman in a crosswalk, while riding an illegal scooter.

In a nutshell, here is the story ...

1) On the morning of Monday, December 2, it was reported that an elderly woman was trying to extort money from a foreigner who was supposedly riding an e-scooter. The woman was claiming that the foreigner hit her while she was crossing the street, and she was asking him to cover her medical bills and also provide injury compensation.

2) The police came and had the woman taken to the hospital for a check up. Medical bills totaled 1,800 rmb and the police requested that the foreigner pay, which he apparently did.

3) Initial reports were that there had never even been an accident, and that the woman was making it all up, apparently in an effort to scam the "rich foreigner" out of money. Also, there were reports that the hospital found absolutely nothing wrong with the woman. Most of this initial information apparently came from the foreign rider's Chinese girlfriend, who had been a rear passenger on his (apparent) e-scooter.

4) This news (and pictures) went viral on Chinese forums, recording hundreds of thousands of posts within a few hours of the news breaking. There was an overwhelming sympathy for the poor foreign rider being scammed by a dishonest old woman from the DongBei region. People from the woman's hometown were calling her on her mobile phone, screaming at her for trying to scam someone.

5) Later on Monday, a short mobile phone video from the scene appeared, demonstrating that the innocent foreigner was swearing at the woman, calling her a "f'n c*nt", and various other unflattering things. On Chinese motorcycle forums, however, people noticed that this wasn't an e-scooter, but a gas-powered scooter, and it didn't seem to have any plates. Nevertheless, the Chinese netizens smelled blood and continued to chastise this old DongBei woman as a horrible scammer.

6) On Tuesday morning, the traffic surveillance video was released. That shut most people up. The video shows the scooter riding recklessly and dangerously prior to the accident, and also shows the woman crossing the street in a marked crosswalk, on a green light. The rider blew through a red light on the wrong side of the road, did a very tight turn, and smacked into the woman, knocking her off her feet and sailing out of view of the camera.

7) It was also revealed that the foreign rider did not have a driving license, it was an illegal motorized scooter (unplated/uninsured), and neither he nor his faithful girlfriend was wearing a helmet. The hospital also revealed that, in fact, the woman had suffered soft tissue damage. In addition, the woman had a history of heart disease and felt that she might be suffering from this, as well (e.g., having a heart attack). When one watches the traffic surveillance video, one can see that she was hit hard, with a direct hit from the scooter.

8) Imagine if that was your mom, with a heart condition, being hit (by a foreigner on an illegal bike, without a driving license) while she was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk ... and then experiencing the shame and wide public ridicule of being called a scammer. Further, immediately after the accident, the foreihn rider calling your mom several nasty swear words, in your mom's native language.

9) The police announced on Wednesday, that they had seized the scooter and also announced that the foreign rider will be punished in accordance with traffic laws.

For those who haven't seen this story, or the videos, here are a couple of English reports, with pics and videos, or links to the relevant videos:

I doubt very much that the rider set out in the morning, planning to run down an old woman. And I am sure he felt that there wouldn't be any problems riding around without a driving license on an illegal bike ... probably did it all the time. What the hell, everyone does it, right?

But shit happens, and this guy's number came up.

Now, his picture is pasted all over the internet, he's been captured on video swearing off an old lady that he just ran over, his bike has been seized, and the police say his punishment is forthcoming. We all know what that means ... 15 days mandatory detention, probably about 6,000 rmb in fines, and quite possibly deportation.

Yeah, I bet he wasn't expecting any of this when he set off on his morning journey with his sweety on the back.

His girlfriend has been interviewed by one news source (People's Daily), and she has been quoted as saying "He has been in China since 2005, and is a really nice guy. I hope people quickly forget about this, so it doesn't impact his teaching job, or his social activities."

She has since refused any more interviews.

Even if he isn't formally deported ... his school will probably fire him and cancel his work visa (assuming he has a legitimate visa). That is the "unofficial method" of kicking someone's sorry ass out of China. Good luck trying to get another visa.

One way he might get to stay in China is if the old woman sues him. He may not be allowed to leave China until the case is settled and, if there is a judgement against him, until he settles the compensation. I guess he can live with his girlfriend's parents. That will work out well.

People really need to catch up with the times - 2500 RMB no-make, unplateable scooters should most definitely not be purchased or ridden anywhere inside Beijing's 5th Ring these days. Back in 2010 I had one, my mate had one and every other Korean/Central Asian/Russian boy and girl studying at BLCU had one. But times change and riding one now is just asking for trouble.

Riding? Yeah, Chinese like fighting consequences instead of cause.. make it unavailable, expensive whatsoever. Right now there are three places walking distance far from my home in the very center of BJ where anyone can buy an r9 and throw it away the next day. As long as it's as cheap as monthly room rent, so, any villager from outside the 6th ring is be able to buy
one, the situation won't improve. Get over it.